6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

[KLINKDETROIT]

I like the 6l6 Mesa 430 tubes made in Russia and the Svetlana El34 tubes from Mesa. I would like a mixture of the mids from the EL34 tubes. The lows and some high sparkle from the 6L6 tubes. What company makes the best ones? The new Groove tube , Electroharmonix?, etc???????????????
I realize Mesa does not make their own tubes and do not have a 6ca7 tube only its similar one that I already have known as the Svetlana el34.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

Just wondering if groove tubes or the Electroharmonix 6CA7 is better. I assume the Groove tubes but is it really worth the difference in price?

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I really like the EH and have heard the same from friends who run them in their old Marshalls. I have em in my 70 Traynor Mk II. Really nice bottom and clarity with a bit more jump on the note than a standard EL34. Tough to beat the EH for the price provided you get them from a reliable source.

 

[aleclee]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I've tried both the GT and the EH 6CA7s in my Rivera. IME, the EH does a better job of splitting the difference between 6L6 and EL34 tone. Assuming that's what you mean by "best", that would be my suggestion.

For someone with an EL34 amp that wants a stronger 6L6 vibe, the GT would be my suggestion.

Since the EH is 1/3 the price of the GT, I see myself going more with the EH but I like the way the EH's have more of the EL34 upper midrange "bark".

My $0.02, IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.

 

[mrid]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I believe Mesa recommends against using 6CA7's.

 

[Curly]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I'm not sure I agree with the premise of the question, but JJ makes an E34L, which is a stouter version of their EL34

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I gather the EH 6ca7 and the GT version are different takes? I always get the cheaper thing then buy the more expensive later only to sell the cheaper one at a loss. I am tempted to get the GT but what rating would you get for a dual rectifier? I like the mids of the EL34 and the lows of the 6l6 type tubes. Is the GT another sound all together or a hybrid? I heard they are like a 6550?

 

[FretFire]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

I think I'd do a bit of research before plugging 6CA7 tubes into a Mesa amp. Email Bob at Eurotubes and see what he has to say about it.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

The EL34 and 6CA7 are both tubes that meet the same requirements...The EL34 is the British designation for the American 6CA7 tube...Either tubes can be used in your EL34 amp with proper biasing...Normally the 6CA7 tube is wider and almost looks like a 6L6..The British EL34 is normally tall and thin...The bigger 6CA7's bigger size,tends to make it almost similar to a 6L6 in tone or in between a 6L6 and the EL34...It's a great tube...

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

Does it have the mids and highs of the EL34 and the lows of a 6l6? Thats what I am looking for. Does the groove tubes 6CA7 have different characteristics than the EH?
My favorite tubes are the Svetlana EL34 for its mids and unoffending highs and the Svetlana 6l6 for its lows.

 

[aleclee]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

Does it have the mids and highs of the EL34 and the lows of a 6l6? Thats what I am looking for. Does the groove tubes 6CA7 have different characteristics than the EH?
My favorite tubes are the Svetlana EL34 for its mids and unoffending highs and the Svetlana 6l6 for its lows.

IME, it's more that it splits the difference in tone rather than getting the highs of one and the lows of the other.

That said, I find the GT to be a bit more toward the 6L6 end of the spectrum and the EH to be closer to an even split between EL34s and 6L6s.

IMO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: 6CA7 POWER TUBES. Best brand for Mesa rectifier?

Aha Thanks

Any soundclips?